“You hear—my wife calls me!”
He tried to close the door, but the unknown stopped him by placing his arm in the aperture.
“Ha, monsieur!” said the tradesman; “what does this mean? Do you wish to do me an injury?”
“Do not be frightened; I only wish to ask you a question.”
“You have asked me ten already.”
“I know that I am at Varennes, thanks to you; I know that there is no post-house, but I knew that before. Having been so kind as to answer those questions, perhaps you will not object to one more?”
“How? Did not you tell me that you were preceding a carriage to Varennes?”
“No doubt; but you have not allowed me to continue. A relay ought to be ready opposite the first houses of Neuvilly; I wished to ask—have you seen that relay?”
“Oh, that is another thing; you should have begun to speak in that manner!”
“Have you seen them?”